Worries about a proposed uranium mine next door are prompting Weld County’s Denkai Animal Sanctuary to move its 150 animals to a new site.
The sanctuary — currently in Carr — is asking for donations to help purchase a 640-acre ranch near Grover. Sanctuary officials want to raise $80,000 in the next 30 days for an initial payment on the property. In all, buying the ranch and relocating the sanctuary would cost about $500,000. So far, the sanctuary has raised $5,000, said director Lucy Pribbenow.
Denkai is 2 miles north of several test wells drilled by Powertech (USA). The company wants to open a uranium mine in the area and says it will begin to apply for mining permits by the end of the year. Denkai officials are concerned that a uranium mine could pose health risks for animals and workers. Powertech says such fears are unfounded. Horses, pigs, llamas, goats and other other domesticated animals are housed at the sanctuary.
– The Denver Post
